Automatic railway-crossing signal



Aug. 14. 1928.

A. FRANzEN AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL File'd June 29, 1927 2 sheets-sheet .l

INVENTORl JUZQ/Lpanzen BY I TTORNE Y.

Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,605

' A. FRANZEN AUTOMATIC RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed June 29, 1927 2 Sheets'nee. 2

l N V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 14, 17928.

i 1,680,605" UNITI-:D STATES PATENTfoFFicE.

ADOLPHFRANZEN, OF NEAR HOWARD, SOUTH DAKOTA.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-CROSSING SIGNAL.

Application filed June 29, 1927. Serial No. 202,299.V`

This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in automatic railway crossing signals and has for its object to prov;de a device of this character for warning pedesf trians and occupants of vehicles of an approaching train. Y

A further object of my invention is to provide a signal of the characterspecified which is operated by suitable actuating means carried by the engine. v

A still further object of my invention 1s to provide a crossing signal which may be operated by the engine a suitable distance from the .crossing to give ample warning to pedestrians and others.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in View that will appear as the nature of my invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. f

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my automatic railway crossing signal, with the signal arm in retracted or inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly in section, with the signal arm in operative or signalling position.

Figure 3 is an inner face view of the upright support and the trip arms.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic vfew, showing the upright support,.tr1p arms and signal actuating means.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section, taken on line 5-5 of Figure l and Figure 6 is a detail sectional View.

.Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of my invention and in which drawings like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the several views, my improved crossing signal comprises the upright support 1 which is mounted at one side of and parallel with the track and may be of any suitable length. In actual practice, a signal is mounted at each side of the track atthe crossing in order that warning may be given of atrain approaching inV either direction, but since both signals are exactly identical in construction and operation, for the sake of convenience, I have shown and will describe but one signal. Y

An inverted L-shaped casing 2 is mounted in an upright position on the outer wall of the` supportil and in the upper horizontal shorter leg 3 of thisv casing is slidably mounted the signal arm i bearing the word Stop the upper end of a vertically disposed actuating lever 5 by the horizontal connecting linkV 6. The actuating lever 5 is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 7, in the longer upright leg 8 of the inverted L-shaped casing 2 and has a. slotted connection at its lower end, as at 9, with the upper vend of the bar 10 also pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 11, in the longer leg of the casing. A similar bar 13 is pivotally mounted,

4as at 14, in a casing 15 mounted in an upv right position on the outer wall of the support 1 at the end thereof opposite the signal arm 4. The bars l() and 13 are connected together at their upper and lower ends by the parallel wires 15 and 16 which Work over suitable guide rollers 17 journaled in Signal arm fl' is connected with suitable casings 18 secured to 'the outer wall or face of support 1.

The bars l0 and 13 are provided with the trip arms 19 and 20 which are located adjacent the inner wall or face of the support 1. In practice, when a train approaches thek crossing in either direction, the signal actuating means 21 engages `the trip arm 20 of the corresponding signal and causes said arm to swing' from a normal substantially upright position into lowered position, which operation through the medium of the connections described, throws the signal arm 4 into operative or signalling position and accordingly warns pedestrians and others ofl the approaching train. When the train reaches the crossing, the trip arm 19 is engaged and actuated to restore the signal arm and other parts in normal or initial position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood without requiring a more ex-V lever and the signal arm and a, flexible eonneetion between the other end of the aetn ating lever and the trip arm.

2. An automatic railway crossing signal comprising a support, a signal arm slidably i mounted thereon and means for moving the latter into Operative or signalling position when the train reaches a predetermined distance yfrom the crossing, said means comprising a trip arm adapted to he actuated by the engine, an actuating lever pivoted to the support, a link between one end of the lever and the signal arm, a bar pivoted to the support and .connected at one end with the aetnating lever, ay second similar bar connected with the trip arm, connections between said last mentionedarms and guide rollers for said iexihle connections.

In testimony whereof he :iiiixes his signature.

ADOLPH FRANZE. 

